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'NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARNOLD A. MELLEN, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY BEDERMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

BUILDING-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,289, dated November 1, 1892.

Application filed March 12, 1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARNOLD A. MELLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton,in the county of Stark and State of Ohio,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Building-Blocks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings,

making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, in Which-- Figure l is a view showing a number of blocks placed in awall. Fig. 2 is a detached view of one of the building-blocks, showing its top or bottom face. Fig. 3 is a transverse section showing two blocks placed on top of each other. Fig.4 is avertical section showing the ends of two blocks united together.

The present invention has relation to building-blocks designed and calculated to be used in the foundationsofbuildingsand like structures; and it consists in the novel construction hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawlngs.

Intheaccompanyingdrawings,Arepresents a building-block, which may be of any desired length and thickness, reference being had to the size of the building-block designed to be formed. The blocks A are formed of clay while in a plastic state and are afterward 5 burned in a kiln in the ordinary manner. Upon the top and bottom faces of the blocks A are formed the ribs a, which ribs are located substantially as shown in thedrawings, and, as shown in Fig. 3, said ribs hold or support the center portions of the building-blocks A a short distance apart, thereby forming a chan-' nel or place for mortar. For the purpose of providing a means for uniting the ends of the blocks A together by means of mortar or cemcut the ends are provided with the V-shaped grooves 19, which grooves form dovetailed recesses when the ends of the building-blocks A are faced together.

In use the dovetailed Serial No. 424,681. (No specimens.)

recesses are filled with mortar or cement, which mortar or cement after it is properly hardened unites the ends of the building blocks A together, thereby securely holding the blocks in proper alignment. By providing the ribs a the meeting faces of the building-blocks A are held a short distance apart, which provides a mortar-space of suificient size to receive and hold a quantity of mortar or cement to prevent any displacement of the building-blocks A after the mortar or cement has become properly hardened. It Will be understood that the ribs a are to be formed upon the building-blocks A by providing suitable dies and spinning the ribs at the same time the blocks are formed.

The partition 0 may be located substantially as shown, and, if desired, ribs may be formed upon the top or bottom faces of the block proper, just opposite the partition, thereby forming a division in the mortar or cement channel. In the drawings but one partition 0 is shown; but it will be understood that any desired number may be formed and ribs located opposite the partition. For the purpose of making a building-block that will be light and at the same time of sufficient size the blocks are formed hollow. For the purpose of extending the V-shaped grooves Z) entirely across the ends of the blocks said grooves are formed in the ends of the ribs CL.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As an article of manufacture, a hollow building-block provided upon its top and bottom outside faces with parallel ribs (1 and ver- 85 tical V-shaped grooves formed in the end of said blocks and ribs, as and for the purpose described and shown.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the pres- 9o ence of two witnesses.

ARNOLD A. MELIJEN.

Witnesses:

LAURA SHAEFFER, F. W. BOND. 

